The House of Representatives, during its oversight session held yesterday and chaired by Speaker Mazen Al-Qadi, discussed 11 parliamentary questions related to investment, education, tourism, and transport. The session was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan and members of his government team, who responded to the questions raised.
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In this context, several MPs submitted memoranda calling for a reversal of the decision to raise water prices and for a reduction in traffic fines. A heated debate over the issue of “decent work” led MPs to demand that the matter be escalated to an interpellation of the Minister of Labor, nearly triggering a dispute between the government and Parliament following a sharp intervention by the minister.
While a number of MPs commended the government for its role in following up on the impacts of the recent weather depression in Karak and Tafilah governorates, others criticized what they described as the government’s failure to improve infrastructure.
Regarding parliamentary questions, MP Zuhair Al-Khashman raised a question related to the transport sector, accepting the response provided by Minister of Transport Nidal Al-Qatamin. MP Yousef Al-Rawashdeh raised a question on tourism, while MP Suleiman Al-Kharabsheh directed a question to the Minister of Education concerning the appointment of school custodians. Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah explained that the ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Sector Development, is studying the option of contracting a private company to handle school cleaning services.
MP Tareq Bani Hani was satisfied with the government’s response to his question, while MP Raed Al-Qatamin addressed a question to the Minister of Investment regarding the investment climate, stressing the need to address it from the perspective of administrative practices, procedural speed, and overlapping mandates—not legislation alone. MP Ahmad Al-Olaimat directed a question to the Minister of Transport regarding the leasing of lands located within the right-of-way of the Hejaz Railway.
The session witnessed tension after MP Dima Tahboub converted her question to the Minister of Labor, Khaled Al-Bakkar, on “decent work” into an interpellation. MPs interrupted the minister’s response, considering its opening harsh and containing inappropriate expressions. Speaker Mazen Al-Qadi immediately intervened, instructing the Secretary-General to proceed with roll call, before MP Suleiman Al-Zabin requested that the minister’s remarks be struck from the session record—a request that was approved.
MP Moayed Al-Olawneh directed a question to the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, while MP Najmeh Al-Hawawsha addressed a question to the Minister of Public Works and Housing regarding service-related and infrastructure files.
Under the agenda item “Any Other Business,” MP Mahmoud Nuaimat addressed flood damage in Karak resulting from the recent weather system, calling for compensation for those affected. MP Ibrahim Al-Tarawneh called for fairness for Karak and other affected governorates, praising the government’s response in rebuilding the wall adjacent to Karak Castle. Two MPs also thanked the Minister of Social Development for her efforts during the weather event, a sentiment echoed by MP Issa Nassar, who praised her developmental work.
Conversely, MP Ibrahim Al-Sarayreh pointed to flaws in the mechanism for dealing with the weather depression, arguing that municipalities were left alone in the field without sufficient support. MP Attallah Al-Hneiti called on the government to take bold decisions, including reducing fuel prices, refraining from raising electricity tariffs, and reversing the water price hike.
MP Saleh Al-Armouti criticized developments in Venezuela, stressing the importance of national sovereignty. MP Ali Al-Khalayleh praised the support provided by the United States and the European Union to the treasury, while MP Andre Azouni highlighted the importance of educational tourism. MP Ayman Al-Badawneh considered the government’s response to the recent weather event to have come very late, criticizing the decision to raise water prices.
MP Habis Al-Shabib referred to issues concerning residents of the Northern Badia who do not hold national identification numbers, while MP Ahmad Al-Qatawneh called for compensating those affected by the weather depression. MP Abdul Baset Al-Kabareeti called for putting an end to what he described as excesses, and MP Mujhim Al-Suqour pointed to challenges related to human resources in the public sector.
MP Suleiman Al-Zabin urged officials to act before weather depressions occur, not after, and to address any gaps. MP Aouni Al-Zaabi stressed the importance of managing the water file, while MP Ayatollah Frihat criticized the exposure of infrastructure resulting from the recent weather event. MP Ibrahim Al-Qaraleh called for transparency regarding the employment of residents of governorates in government institutions and the private sector.
MP Suleiman Al-Saoud said that preventing Muslim and Christian worshippers in Jerusalem from praying is ongoing, and that there are settlement projects aimed at imposing new realities in the holy city, stressing the necessity of the Hashemite custodianship over the holy sites.
MP Haitham Ziadin also addressed the Karak floods, pointing to weak preparedness and infrastructure, while MP Dima Al-Basheer spoke about the decision to raise fees for the children of foreign residents in the Kingdom. MP Moayed Al-Olawneh called for extending working hours at Shakel Health Center in Taybeh, Irbid. MP Hamza Al-Hawamdeh highlighted unemployment and water poverty, while MP Rania Abu Rumman addressed the new water and wastewater tariff. MP Hussein Al-Riyati called for reversing the increase in water and wastewater prices.
MP Mohammad Aql said that Zionists are committing the most heinous acts of genocide, referring also to attempts to divide Sudan, and noting that the Zionist entity’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” reveals its plans, calling for activating the Arab national security system.
MP Hussein Al-Amoush urged MPs to use constitutional tools to hold the government accountable, calling for a closed session with the government to speak frankly. MP Wasfi Haddad praised royal attention to Ajloun Governorate, calling for protecting its forests from encroachments. MP Ismail Al-Mashaqbeh criticized the municipality’s installation of 5,500 cameras, calling instead for planting trees rather than cameras for traffic violations, and for separating fines from licensing procedures.
MP Taysir Abu Arabi called for launching an initiative titled “A National Grant” to distribute aid and donations to poor families, especially during winter, while MP Malek Al-Tahrawi called for establishing a national support fund to address emergencies. MP Hussein Al-Tarawneh pointed out that half of the machinery in Karak was out of service during the weather depression, noting that the operations room was not activated. MP Jameel Dehisat stressed the importance of expediting restrictions on access to websites for those under 16 years of age. MP Huda Al-Atoum called for vehicle licensing every two years and for reconsidering traffic fines.
MPs Omar Al-Khawaldeh, Walid Al-Masri, Ahmad Al-Qatawneh, Abdulhadi Breizat, and Khaliqa Al-Deyat stressed the importance of preserving and supporting the education system. MP Hail Ayash emphasized the need to increase salaries, while MP Firas Al-Qablan pointed to the importance of closing the Unity Dam and making use of it.
At the beginning of the session, Speaker Al-Qadi mourned former Prime Minister Ali Abu Al-Ragheb and former minister Saleh Arshidat, affirming that both were national figures and models of values, ethics, and loyalty to the الوطن and its leadership. He praised the careers of the late Abu Al-Ragheb and engineer Saleh Arshidat, who served the country as an MP, minister, and party leader, calling on MPs to recite Al-Fatiha for their souls.
During the session, MPs submitted a proposal calling for separating traffic fines from licensing transactions and obligating their payment through alternative mechanisms. They urged the government to immediately reverse the decision to raise water and wastewater tariffs, given the additional burden it places on citizens, and to immediately begin maintaining and rehabilitating infrastructure at archaeological sites—particularly Karak Castle—and to establish and upgrade water drainage networks surrounding these sites.
